Star Martial Era: From Mortal to Emperor

Chapter 142 Initial Investigation of the Gu Nest in the Desolate Manor

They continued deeper. The passage gradually widened, from being wide enough for one person to be wide enough for two, and from two to three. Stone chambers began to appear on both sides. These chambers had no doors, only dark openings, like gaping mouths.

The stone chamber was filled with enormous earthenware jars. Each jar was about half a person's height, its mouth sealed with wooden planks, each plank weighed down by stones. Some of the planks were cracked, letting through a dark green light and a strong, putrid stench. Lin Chen lifted a plank and shone starlight inside.

The jar was filled with a dark green liquid, viscous like paste, with a layer of grayish-white foam floating on the surface. Countless Gu worm eggs were submerged in the liquid; the eggs were translucent, like tiny balloons, and the nascent worm forms could be vaguely seen inside, curled up, wriggling, and bobbing up and down in the liquid. Also in the liquid were the carcasses of many wild animals used as food for the Gu worms—wild boars, roe deer, foxes, and several other remains of unidentifiable creatures. The corpses were mostly decomposed, revealing white bones, and the rotting flesh was crawling with Gu worms and maggots, densely packed, a sight that made one's scalp crawl.

"These are all low-level Gu worms, used to control civilians and low-level martial artists." Chu Fan carved a mark on the stone wall, the number "seventeen," representing the number of stone chambers he had already inspected. He pushed up his glasses, his brows furrowed deeply. "At this rate of cultivation, in less than half a month, they can cultivate enough Gu worms to control the entire Qing Shi Border City. Half a month is enough for them to tear a large hole in the border."

At the entrance to the second floor, the evil energy suddenly intensified.

The aura was like a wall, pressing down from the depths of the passage, heavy and oppressive, making it hard to breathe. Su Muyue's array flags lit up briefly, blocking the strongest impact, but her face paled slightly. Lin Chen's star power flowed through her, his protective energy traveling along the ground to her feet, stabilizing her breathing.

The stone chambers on either side of the passage were no longer filled with earthenware jars, but with iron cages. One cage after another lined the walls, each containing a person. Dozens of civilians were imprisoned inside—the elderly, women, and children. Most of them had been corrupted by the Gu worms, their eyes clouded, huddled in the corners of their cages, trembling like frightened animals. Some clutched their heads, some covered their ears, and some repeatedly kowtowed, their foreheads striking the iron bars, breaking the skin and drawing blood down their faces, but they seemed oblivious to the pain.

In the corner, several martial artists dressed in Martial Arts Alliance uniforms were imprisoned. Their clothes were torn, their armor stripped off, and they were covered in wounds. Some had severed hands, some had severed feet. They were chained to the stone wall, their breathing weak, and the rise and fall of their chests were barely visible. Their wounds were inflamed, red, swollen, and oozing pus, emitting a putrid stench.

Su Ling'er's hand trembled slightly.

She recognized one of the men's faces—it was one of her father's former subordinates in the military. She had seen him when she was little; he had held her and bought her candied hawthorns. The man's eyes were closed, his head tilted to one side, his lips chapped and black, and his face devoid of color. Her eyes reddened, and her lips were bitten until they turned white, but she didn't make a sound. Her fingers gripped the clasp of the medicine box tightly, her knuckles turning white. After a few breaths, she loosened her grip, took out a few healing pills from the box, and handed them to Leng Feng, indicating that he should find a chance to take them inside.

Su Muyue pressed Su Ling'er's hand and shook her head. Now is not the time to save her.

Lin Chen gestured for everyone to remain calm, his gaze fixed on the stone chamber in the center of the second floor. The chamber's door was tightly shut; it was made of cast iron, thick and heavy, and engraved with runes of the evil race, which glowed a dark red light in the darkness. Dim yellow light shone through the cracks in the door, along with the sounds of conversation.

Qin Kun's voice came from inside the door. His voice was neither loud nor soft, nor fast nor slow, carrying a condescending composure, like someone giving orders to a group of ants.

"Accelerate the cultivation of the Gu Mother. Three days later, release the Gu Mother into the water source of the border city. As long as all the people in the city are controlled by the Gu worms, we will use this as a base to gradually encroach on the surrounding towns, opening up a passage for the evil lord's army."

A voice from a wicked individual rang out, respectful yet tinged with a cautious probing.

"Rest assured, sir, the Gu Mother has reached maturity and will definitely be ready for use in three days. However… those lads from Xingwu University have already arrived in the border city. Won't that ruin our plans?"

"Just a few greenhorns, nothing to fear." Qin Kun scoffed, his tone full of disdain. "That good-for-nothing Qin Cang can't even defend a secret realm, what makes you think he can achieve anything great? Once I take control of Qing Shi Border City and make great contributions, the Evil Lord will naturally value me. At that time, I will be in charge of the entire Qin family, and that old bastard Qin Cang can go to jail."

Lin Chen exchanged glances with the others.

Qin Kun's plan was far larger than anticipated. He wasn't there to clean up Qin Cang's mess; he wanted to use this opportunity to rise in power and replace Qin Cang's position within the evil race. Qing Shi Border City was merely the first step, a pledge of allegiance to the evil race.

Just then, in the stone chamber where the civilians were imprisoned, a little girl suddenly started crying.

The crying wasn't loud, like someone being jolted awake from a nightmare, groggy and sobbing, calling for "Mama." But in the silent underground nest, the sound was like a needle, sharply piercing through all pretense.

The conversation inside the iron gate abruptly stopped.

Lin Chen's heart sank.

"Who's outside?!"

Qin Kun's sharp shout came from inside the door, and the iron door swung open with a bang. Four dark figures darted out from inside, moving with astonishing speed, and the moment they landed, they had already locked onto the corner where Lin Chen and the others were hiding. Their eyes were pure black, without any whites, and dark red light flickered in their pupils. Evil energy surged around them, and their killing intent was undisguised.

Leng Feng was the first to rush out.

Without any hesitation, and without even glancing back at Lin Chen, he swept his battle blade horizontally, the dark red runes on its edge suddenly lighting up as he slashed at the leading evil thug. The blade collided with the evil claw, creating a shockwave that sent debris flying.

"Since you're here, why don't you all stay?"

Qin Kun slowly walked out of the stone chamber. He was tall and wore a long black robe with no superfluous decorations, except for dark red, sinister patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs. His face was covered with strange black lines, stretching from his forehead to his chin like cracks, like tree roots, like a face that had been torn apart and then stitched back together. His eyes were dark brown, with bright pupils like two lamps. His gaze swept over Lin Chen and the other four, finally settling on Lin Chen.

His lips slowly parted to reveal two rows of neat teeth, his smile as warm as the spring sunshine, but the light in his eyes was cold, venomous, and filled with the satisfaction and greed of watching prey walk right into his trap.

"I never expected you to come to me of your own accord."

His voice was soft and gentle, as if he were chatting with an old friend.

"Perfect timing! I'll dig out your Star Martial Core and offer it to the Evil Lord. That would be a great achievement for me."

A battle suddenly broke out in the underground lair.

Lin Chen's star energy had already enveloped his entire body. The silvery-white light shone exceptionally brightly under the green oil lamp, illuminating the entire passage like a lamp. He gripped the Star Sword, its starlight flickering as if breathing. His gaze pierced through the fighting, through the surging evil energy, through the flying sparks, through the billowing smoke, locking directly onto Qin Kun. Qin Kun was also looking at him.

Two gazes met in the darkness.

There was no sound, no sparks, but something broke at that moment, like a string that had been stretched for too long finally snapping.